Columbia Police say a man who threatened to commit “suicide by cop” Monday has been taken into custody, following an hours-long standoff at Stephens Lake park.
CPD had urged residents to avoid the busy park, due to the incident. Monday afternoon’s incident began at about 2:30, when Columbia Police responded to calls that the man was threatening to commit suicide at the park. CPD located the man in one of the Stephens Lake park pavilions and say he was brandishing a knife and threatening to commit “suicide by cop.”
Reporter Mitch Kaminski from our news partner ABC-17 was on-scene and says the man was pacing back and forth at the pavilion. Columbia Police say their crisis negotiation and SWAT teams used their skills to coordinate a safe response to the man’s needs. The man was taken into custody at about 7 last night.
CPD’s investigation continues.